Goldman Sachs has significantly increased its exposure to BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), with a 28% jump in its holdings over the first quarter of 2025. The investment bank now owns over 30.8 million IBIT shares, valued at more than $1.4 billion. This new data was revealed in a recent SEC filing, first reported by MacroScope. Goldman had previously held 24 million shares at the end of 2024, making the increase notable amid growing institutional interest in spot Bitcoin ETFs. Minimal Change in Fidelity Exposure While Goldman has expanded its IBIT position, its stake in Fidelity’s Bitcoin fund (FBTC) appears largely unchanged. Back in February, the firm reported about $1.2 billion in IBIT holdings and $288 million in FBTC. The latest filing shows no significant shifts in FBTC exposure. According to financial analytics platform Fintel, Goldman now ranks as the top institutional holder of IBIT. Brevan Howard follows closely behind, with over 25 million shares valued at nearly $1.4 billion. Other institutional participants include Jane Street, Symmetry Investments, and D.E. Shaw & Co. Strategic Shift in Derivatives Exposure A notable change in Goldman’s approach is the absence of Bitcoin ETF options in the new disclosure. In December, the bank held call options worth $157 million and put options totaling $527 million on IBIT, along with $84 million in puts on FBTC. Those options have either been closed out or allowed to expire, signaling a pivot in strategy. This shift suggests Goldman may now favor direct equity exposure in Bitcoin ETFs over derivatives as a way to manage risk or express confidence in Bitcoin’s medium-term outlook. IBIT Dominates the Market IBIT remains the largest spot Bitcoin ETF, managing approximately $62.8 billion in assets. Since its debut in January 2025, the fund has attracted over $44 billion in net inflows. This week alone, it has logged roughly $674 million, according to Farside Investors. The ETF’s price also saw a gain during Friday’s trading session, rising $1.04 to close at $58.66. As institutional adoption accelerates, IBIT continues to be the central vehicle for Bitcoin exposure in traditional markets.
